Social and cognitive variables predicting voluntary HIV counseling and testing among Tanzanian medical students.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to predict Tanzanian medical students' Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) participation intention using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical framework. Further, differences between respondents who had previously participated in VCT and respondents who had not were assessed.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data were gathered from 186 Tanzanian medical students using a self-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
Almost half of the respondents (43.3%) reported having been tested for HIV. A prediction model containing HBM and demographic variables explained 31% of the variance in VCT-participation intention. Self-efficacy, fear of being HIV-positive, and perceived susceptibility contributed significantly to the final regression model. In addition, respondents who had previously participated in VCT expressed less fear of being stigmatized and being HIV-positive than respondents who had not.


CONCLUSIONS
Fear of being HIV-positive, self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility and fear of being stigmatized were associated with either VCT-participation intention or previous participation. Further, the HBM accounted for a limited proportion of the explained variance in Tanzanian students' intention to participate in VCT. This suggests that the validity of the HBM in explaining HIV-preventive behavior in Sub-Saharan Africa should be questioned.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions promoting VCT should incorporate program elements targeting self-efficacy, fear of being HIV-positive, perceived susceptibility and fear of being stigmatized.
Vermeer
Willemijn
W
VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands. willemijn.vermeer@falw.vu.nl
Bos
Arjan E R
AE
Mbwambo
Jessie
J
Kaaya
Sylvia
S
Schaalma
Herman P
HP
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013636:Tanzania; D035141:Voluntary Programs